From Kalam to Malala, people whose lives turned into bestsellers

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After losing her husband in 2015, Facebook COO and author Sheryl Sandberg penned down her personal journey to “help others learn” what she learnt. Here are a few personalities who have shared their stories and made their lives an example for others.

1. 'When Breath Becomes Air' by Paul Kalanithi

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At the age of 36, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic lung cancer. When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi’s transformation from a medical student into a neurosurgeon at Stanford and finally into a patient and new father confronting his own mortality. Kalanithi died at 37. The book was completed by his wife, Lucy, and published in January 2016.

2. 'I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban' by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb

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On October 9, 2012, 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by Talibans – and survived. At 17, Malala became the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala’s memoir, published in October 2013 and co-authored by Lamb, shares the story of her family and her journey as a young education activist.

3. 'Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography' by Walter Isaacson

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Based on more than 40 interviews with Jobs conducted over two years, the book chronicled the rollercoaster life and intense personality of the man who revolutionised the tech industry. The book was released on October 24, 2011, 19 days after Jobs’s death.

Yuvraj Singh was awarded the Player of the Tournament honour at World Cup 2011. And then came the news that he had been battling cancer throughout the tournament. In his inspirational autobiography, published in 2013, Singh spoke of his journey from one of the most successful cricketers in India and a role model to the horrors of chemotherapy.

5. 'Wings of Fire' by APJ Abdul Kalam

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'Wings of Fire' is the tale of a young Muslim boy who went on to become the President of India. It is the story of Kalam’s rise from obscurity and his personal and professional struggles. The autobiography first published in English in 1999, has been translated and published in 13 languages including Hindi, Tamil, Oriya, Marathi, and Gujarati.

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